The Different Types of Vacuum Cleaners Used by Businesses

As the owner or manager of a business, it most often falls upon you to order any supplies or equipment needed for production or the day-to-day operations of your company. Are you currently in the market for a vacuum cleaner? Oddly enough, many people don’t really understand the difference between a commercial vacuum and one intended for home use. They are often worlds apart and so it behooves you to understand just what it is you need before ordering something that just won’t do the job. Let’s take a brief look at the different types of vacuum cleaners used by businesses.

1. Small Handhelds for Spot Cleaning and Small Areas

Not every business will need a heavy duty vacuum as you would see in large industrial facilities. These are often large units that can pick up literally hundreds of meters of dirt, metal shavings, wood chips or any other by product produced during the manufacturing process. A small handheld vacuum is just as the name implies. Typically, a small handheld unit is battery operated, but some models are corded as well. Restaurants, for example, use a small handheld for cleaning booths and other areas needing a quick spot cleaning.

2. Large Industrial Heavy-Duty Vacuums

At the opposite end of the spectrum would be a large industrial heavy-duty vacuum. As mentioned, these are most often used withing the manufacturing process and can be operated automatically as well as manually. If your current heavy-duty vacuum is broken beyond repair or if you find that you need one with greater capabilities, look at vacuum manufacturers that specialize in large, industrial units.

3. Canister Vacuums

Most often used for cleaning carpets in offices or waiting areas, canister vacuums are typically corded. These are used for lighter jobs and very rarely used out in production. You can find canister vacuums which are equipped with a HEPA filter, HEPA standing for High Efficiency Particulate Air filter. Some canister vacuums also use water to filter the particulates, but this style isn’t often used in commercial settings.

4. Wet/Dry Vacs

Here again, this type of vacuum isn’t often used in industrial settings. They can be used in a business if spills are a common occurrence. Whether vacuuming a carpet or cleaning up a spill, wet/dry vacs are usually corded. Bear in mind that after cleaning up a spill, it will be necessary to empty the liquid or it can create quite an odor. Before using a wet/dry vacuum, learn how to use it for both wet and dry applications.

5. Upright Vacuums

Much like canister vacuums, upright vacuums are often used in businesses for cleaning floors and carpets in offices, waiting rooms and other areas but rarely in production. An upright vacuum can be the type to use bags but among some of the most popular are the bagless varieties. These can simply be emptied but will also require a filter to keep dust from flying around.

The most important thing to remember when shopping for a vacuum for your business is to get the type that will do the job you need it to do.


Interesting Related Article: “How to Get a Great Commercial Vacuum Cleaner On a Tight Budget